Spinal spurs are a common part of getting older. Despite their fearsome-sounding name, they don’t necessarily cause pain, and patients should be cautious about getting drugs or surgery because of them. But it is true that spinal spurs can sometimes cause problems, including soreness and stiffness. At the Carrollton chiropractic office of Dr. Peter Lazarnick (Dr. Pete), we provide pain-relief treatments for spinal spurs that are meant to strengthen the body. Through non-invasive means, it may be possible for a patient to regain comfort and resume their normal activities.
The “backbone” is really a complex network of interlocking vertebrae and the shock-absorbing spongy discs between them. The vertebrae’s interlocking facet joints are cushioned and lubricated by cartilage, and numerous ligaments and tendons connect to the vertebrae in the vicinity of the spongy discs. When soft tissues are inflamed for a long time, the bones nearby may start growing the rounded protrusions we call spinal spurs. If a person has osteoarthritis, their cartilage is breaking down, and the vertebrae facets may develop spurs in the places they grind together. If the discs are losing fluid, the nearby tendons and ligaments have to work harder and pull more on the bone. Spinal spurs may improve the vertebrae’s ability to distribute weight by providing it with more surface area, but they can also push into nearby muscles and compress arteries and nerves, causing radiating pain.
Removing spinal spurs can be dangerous and it may be possible to condition the body to move efficiently despite them. We can provide chiropractic adjustments for vertebrae that have become subluxated by the deterioration of their discs or cartilage, taking pressure off the nerves that emerge from the vertebrae. Through muscle work such as massage, physical therapy, and electric stimulation, we can also make soft tissues more flexible, so spurs will be less of an issue. Stronger muscles are also able to share more of a person’s weight, reducing pressure on their spinal columns and making them less vulnerable to inflammation.
Dr. Peter Lazarnick is located at 486 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton, Georgia, 30117. To schedule an appointment, call 770-832-2226 or visit www.askdrpete.com.